Free Nobody Knows by Mary Jane Clark

vacation each year. He wanted to have time to enjoy the new boat he hadbought, the boat he had christened
The Eyes Have It
. Sailing was his passion.
    Harry was not really a people person, as his patients would say, while hastening to add that they didn’t care if his bedside manner wasn’t the best as long as his hands were steady and he knew what he was doing. In a world where a single man was a rare commodity, many women had tried to entice him.
    “The actual surgery will take only about a half an hour, Mrs. Chambers, but you better plan to spend about three hours in the hospital. The anesthesiologist will make sure you are comfortable during the operation. You’ll be awake during the surgery, but you won’t feel any pain.”
    Etta gripped Charles’s hand as they listened to what was to come.
    Dr. Lewis didn’t bother giving an understanding smile or reaching out to pat Etta’s arm in a sign of reassurance. “My nurse tells me that we have a last-minute cancellation, so we have an opening tomorrow morning. We could do the surgery then, or else you can wait until the end of September or early October. It’s up to you.”
    The couple looked at each other. “Whatever you want to do, Etta,” Charles said soothingly.
    “Oh my, I wasn’t prepared for this,” said his wife. “But maybe it would be good to get it over with instead of worrying about it for the next month.”
    “Fine,” declared the ophthalmologist, quickly making a notation in his book. “Tomorrow morning. Ten o’clock. Don’t wear any makeup or jewelry or hairpins,and make sure to wear loose and comfortable clothing. Take any medication you normally take.”
    Dr. Lewis rose to dismiss his patient, extending his hand across the desk. “See you tomorrow.”
    Etta and Charles left the office, not quite knowing what had hit them, as the doctor rang for his nurse to bring him his lunch. As usual, he’d been up early to perform surgery, and he was hungry. He had fifteen minutes penciled in to eat before his next appointment. Just enough time to scarf down his chef’s salad and catch the top of the noon news.

CHAPTER 14
    “Hannah? Hi, honey. It’s Mom.”
    “Oh, hi.”
    Cassie’s heart sank at the lack of enthusiasm in her daughter’s voice.
    “How’s everything going, sweetheart?”
    “Fine.”
    “What have you been doing?”
    “Not much.”
    “Have you been going to the pool?”
    “Not really.”
    “Playing any softball?”
    “The season’s over, Mom,” answered the thirteen-year-old with resignation. “Don’t you know anything?” was left unspoken.
    Cassie eyed the packed canvas duffel bag in her foyer as she twisted the telephone cord in her free hand. She didn’t want to tell Hannah, but it would be worse if she waited. “How’s the weather up there, Hannah?” God, she sounded so lame. Like she was makingpolite small talk with a stranger. Not the conversation that a mother and daughter should be having.
    “It’s hot. Hot and muggy.” Hannah sounded bored.
    “That’s the way it is down here, too.” Cassie swallowed. “But there’s a storm brewing off the western coast of the state. It’s close to becoming a hurricane.”
    No response on the other end of the telephone line.
    “Hannah?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Honey, I have to go to Sarasota, to be in place in case this thing turns into a hurricane.”
    “So?” Her daughter was going to make her say it.
    “So I might not be able to come up there this weekend.”
    “Figures.” The sarcasm in Hannah’s tone stung.
    “Oh, Hannah, please don’t be like that. You know there’s nothing I want more than to come up and see you.” Cassie didn’t like the pleading quality she heard in her voice.
    “Yeah, Mom. Right.”
    “Hannah, I’m so sorry. But what can I do? You know how it is, honey. This is my job.” Cassie wanted to add, the job that pays for all those trips to The Gap and J. Crew, but she held her tongue.
    “Yeah, I know how it is, Mom. It’s always